Santarfa

Mizan is a ''tabia'' or municipality in the Tanqua Millash district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. This ''tabia'' includes the rock church of Debre Sema'it, as well as Arefa, reputedly birthplace of the Queen of Sheba. The ''tabia'' centre is in Kerene village. Until 2020, Mizan belonged to the Degua Tembien, Dogu'a Tembien district.

Geography

The ''tabia'' occupies the Tsilare ridge, that overlooks the wide Tekezze lowlands. On the horizon, across Tekezze River, the Simien Mountains can be seen. The highest area is the plateau in Kerene at 2590 m Height above sea level, a.s.l. and the lowest place is the foot of the escarpment at Debre Semay'it (1725 m a.s.l.).

Geology

From the higher to the lower locations, the following geological formations are present:
* Alaji Basalts, Upper basalt
* Intra-volcanic sedimentary rock in North Ethiopia, Interbedded lacustrine deposits
* Ashangi Basalts, Lower basalt
* Amba Aradam Formation
* Antalo Limestone
* Adigrat Sandstone
* Edaga Arbi Glacials

Geological gallery

File:Lower basalt - hexagonal outcrop at Gumuara.jpg, Hexagonal outcrop of Ashangi basalts.
File:Lower basalt - La'ilay Gumuara.jpg, Ashangi basalts in Gumuara.
File:Edaga Arbi glacials.jpg, Edaga Arbi glacials at the foot of the escarpment.
File:Santarfa.jpg, Village of Santarfa on a structural flat

Geomorphology and soils

The main geomorphic units, with corresponding soil types are:
* Basalt plateau
** Associated soil types
*** deep, very dark clays with strong structure and very good natural fertility, temporarily waterlogging (agriculture) , waterlogged during the wet season (Vertisol)
*** shallow, very stony, loamy soils (Leptic and Skeletic Cambisol and Regosol)
*** moderately deep, brown, loamy soils with a good natural fertility (Luvisol)
** Inclusions
*** complex of rock outcrops, very stony and very shallow soils ((Lithic) Leptosol)
*** moderately deep, stony, dark cracking clays (Vertic Cambisol)
* Adigrat Sandstone cliff and footslope
** Associated soil types
*** complex of rock outcrops, very stony and very shallow soils ((Lithic) Leptosol)
*** shallow, stony sandy loam soils (Eutric Regosol and Cambisol)
** Inclusions
*** shallow, dry soils with very high amounts of stones (Leptic and Skeletic Cambisol and Regosol)
*** deep, dark cracking clays with good fertility, but problems of waterlogging (agriculture) , waterlogging (Chromic and Pellic Vertisol)
*** soils with stagnating water due to an abrupt textural change such as sand over clay (Haplic Planosol)

Climate

The rainfall pattern shows a very high seasonality with 70 to 80% of the annual rain falling in July and August. The mean temperature in Kerene is 17.8 °C, oscillating between an average daily minimum of 9.9 °C and a maximum of 25.3 °C. The contrasts between day and night air temperatures are much larger than seasonal contrasts.

Springs

As there are no permanent rivers, springs are of the utmost importance for the local people. The main springs in the ''tabia'' are:
* Debresema'it in the village of the same name
* Debregenet in Kekema
* May Mikale in Tsilere

Reservoirs

In this area with rains that last only for a couple of months per year, reservoirs of different sizes allow harvesting run-off from the rainy season for further use in the dry season.

There are both traditional surface water harvesting ponds, particularly in places without permanent springs, called ''rahaya'' and more
recently constructed ''Horoyo''. These are household ponds the construction of which has been promoted by development campaigns.

Settlements

The ''tabia'' centre of Kerene has a few administrative offices, a health post, a primary school and some small shops. There are a few more primary schools across the ''tabia''. The other main populated places are:

Agriculture and livelihood

The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The plateau is dominated by farmlands on Vertisols which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the agricultural system is a permanent upland farming system. The farmers have adapted their cropping systems to the spatio-temporal variability in rainfall.

History and culture

History

The history of the ''tabia'' is strongly connected with the history of Tembien.

Religion and churches

Most inhabitants are Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Orthodox Christians. The following churches are located in the ''tabia'':
* Medhane Alem
* Debre Sema'it Yohannes (rock church)
* Tsilare Mika'el
* Qeqema Maryam
* Yeresere Abune Ayezgi

Legends and myths

Arefa, at the western side of the tabia and end of the Tsilere ridge, is reputedly the birthplace of the Queen of Sheba. The inhabitants have many legends about her, that all play in and around the rugged mountains of Dog'ua Tembien (Arefa, Megesta, Gelebeda).

''Inda Siwa'', the local beer houses

In the main villages, there are traditional beer houses (''Siwa (beer), Inda Siwa''), often in unique settings, where people socialise. Well known in the ''tabia'' are
* Letemariam Gebrekidan at Yeresere
* Letebrhan Gebreyohannes at Kerene

Roads and communication

The main road from Mekelle via Hagere Selam (Degua Tembien), Hagere Selam to Abiy Addi runs through the eastern part of the ''tabia''. There are regular bus services to these towns. Furthermore, a rural access road links Kerene to the main asphalt road.

Schools

Almost all children of the ''tabia'' are schooled, though in some schools there is lack of classrooms, directly related to the large intake in primary schools over the last decades. Schools in the ''tabia'' include Yeresere school.

Tourism

Its mountainous nature and proximity to Mekelle makes the ''tabia'' fit for tourism.

Touristic attractions

* The Yohannes rock church at Debre Sema'it () is located in the top of a rock pinnacle. This church has been hewn in Adigrat Sandstone.
* All along the top of the Tsilere ridge, when the sky is clear, there are good views towards the Simien Mountains, a hundred kilometres away, across Tekezze River.
* The Hagere Selam (Degua Tembien), Hagere Selam – Abiy Addi road passes along the foot of the Tsilere ridge, with good views to the escarpment, the Debre Sema'it rock church, and apses in the Adigrat sandstone.
* The high variability of geological formations and the rugged topography invite for geological and geographic tourism or "geotourism".

Trekking routes

Trekking routes have been established in this ''tabia''. The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded GPX files.
* Trek 7, is from Abiy Addi across Arefa to the Debre Sema'it rock church, and further along the Tsilare ridge to Inda Maryam Qorar
* Trek 19, from Agbe to Debre Sema'it, and then it continues along the same line as Trek 7
Both treks involve a vertical interval of more than one kilometer and require good physical conditions.

Accommodation and facilities

Though facilities are basic, the inhabitants are hospitable.

See also

* Degua Tembien, Dogu'a Tembien district.

References

{{ Tabias (municipalities) of Dogu’a Tembien

Populated places in the Tigray Region
Dogu'a Tembien